PropertyTax assessment notices in mail next week

Posted By MARLENE BERGSMASTANDARD STAFF

Property values in St. Catharines are up about 19 per cent, but the tax pain you’ll feel depends on whether your property goes up more than the average.

Homeowners in Niagara will begin receiving their new tax assessment notices next week, and in St. Catharines, at least, the average increase is close to the provincial average of 20 per cent.

The new assessment will be based on the market value of the property on Jan. 1, 2008. The previous assessment was based on the market value on Jan. 1, 2005.

The province froze property values in 2006 and then imposed an overhaul on the assessment system, including a new four-year phase-in of any increases.

The homeowners who will be hardest hit by any increases in city spending will be those whose home values increased more than the municipal average.

If your home’s value increases 30 per cent — about 10 percentage points more than the St. Catharines average — you will face a tax increase of at least 2.5 per cent a year over the next four years, and that’s if the city’s spending doesn’t go up.

If St. Catharines councillors increase spending, which they have done every year for at least a decade, your greater-than- average assessment increase will be compounded by any spending hike.

City administrator Colin Briggs said city staff were given advance notice of the St. Catharines situation this week, but he doesn’t know how St. Catharines’ average increase compares with values in Niagara’s 11 other municipalities.

In the previous re-assessment, values in Welland and Port Colborne lagged behind values in hot real estate markets such as Grimsby, Lincoln, St. Catharines and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Briggs said, which means taxpayers in Welland and Port Colborne paid a smaller share of the regional tax pie, while taxpayers elsewhere paid more.

He expects similar disparities this time around.

When the notices begin arriving next week, each property owner will be given a password to use on the Municipal Property Assessment Corp. website. The website will give detailed information about your property, and allow you to compare your property with up to 24 additional properties, and up to six more selected by MPAC.

The “About My Property” link can be reached through the MPAC website at www.mpac.ca

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Sunday November 2nd, is coming this weekend.

This is the date we change our clocks back to Standard Time. Spring forward -Fall back.

This is also the best time to replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

If your smoke alarm is over 10 years old it is recommended that it be replaced. They have a life span of about 10 years.

Carbon monoxide detectors are a different matter; they have a life span of about 5 years before they should be replaced.

This is also a good time to get into the habit of testing your smoke alarm on a regular basis.

A candle will smolder after it is blown out. This smoke should activate the smoke alarm if placed directly below it.

REMEMBER: Only WORKING smoke alarms save lives!

Test YOUR smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors today.

T.

Timothy Salisbury
Broker
Royal LePage Niagara Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage
www.timothysalisbury.com
email@timothysalisbury.com
office ( 905) 937-6000
Toll Free 1-800-467-8498

P.S.: Remember, a referral is sending someone you care about to someone you respect. Please don’t keep me a secret! Who is the next person you know looking to buy or sell real estate?

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The History of Halloween

The actual word Halloween comes from the Catholic Church’s term “All Hallows Eve.” All Hallows Day or “All Saints Day” was a Catholic holiday set aside to honour saints on November 1st. Celtic Ireland in the 5th century BC believed that October 31st was the last day of summer — calling the holiday Samhain (sow-en), which also started the Celtic New Year.

One story goes that spirits of those who died that year came back that day to find bodies to possess. The villagers would put out their fires and dress up in ghoulish costumes making a lot of noise to scare the spirits away so they would not want to possess their bodies.

The Celtic tribes would later light their fires from one Druidic fire kept burning at Usinach in the middle of Ireland.

The Romans later adopted the Celtic practices. As time went on, they weren’t so worried about spirits possessing bodies, but they kept dressing up.

Halloween was brought to America in the 1840’s by Irish immigrant fleeing their country’s potato famine. New England added pranks like tipping over outhouses and unhinging gates to the practice of dressing up.

“Trick-or-treating” came from a 9th century European custom called “souling.” On November 2, All Souls Day, Christians would walk from village to village begging for “soul cakes” made from bread and currants. People would offer prayers for the deceased believing it would speed up a soul’s passage to heaven. The more cakes given out, the more prayers offered.

Jack-O-Lanterns

The tradition of carving faces into vegetables comes from Ireland. They mostly used turnips, and instead of lighting with a candle like we do now, a hot coal was set inside back then.

The legend tells of how a drunk named Jack met the Devil on his last day here on earth. He bargained with the Devil to buy him one last drink. When the Devil changed into sixpence to pay for Jack’s drink, Jack put him in his pocket instead. The Devil couldn’t get out for quite a long time because there was a silver cross in the pocket too. When the Devil did escape Jack tricked him again and made the Devil promise never to come back for him again. Jack died soon after that. When he died, his gloomy past kept him out of Heaven, and the Devil couldn’t take him either, so he was doomed to walk the earth until Judgment Day. Jack begged for light to shine his way, so the Devil threw him a burning coal from his fires. Jack put the coal in a turnip and held it in his arms at night as he walked the roads.

Jack of Lanterns or “Jack-O-Lantern” became a symbol of an unfortunate lost soul.

Trick-or-Treat

A long, time ago people believed that evil spirits and demons caused destruction and misfortune.

One legend says that near the fall when people are celebrating the Samhain festival, jealous goats kept on trying to trick mortals by letting them in by the fire. People often wore masks if they went out after dark to keep from being recognized by the ghosts.

Similar things were happening in Europe. Throughout parts of England, the poor would go from door to door begging for soul cakes or money.

A long time ago, people wore masks with ugly and spooky faces whenever diseases and disaster or famine struck. They believe that their spook, ugly, hideous masks would scare away the cause of the bad things.

Recently children dressed up as ghosts and goblins to scare the neighbours. In the United States, housewives gave candy, cookies and apples to children on Halloween in exchange for promises of no naughty tricks or mischief.

Safety Tips for Trick-or-Treating

Walk, don’t run.
Stay on sidewalks.
Cross the street at the corner or in a crosswalk.
Obey traffic signals.
Stay in familiar neighbourhoods.
Don’t cut across yards or driveways.
Never trick-or-treat alone. Take a parent or friend with you.
Make sure costumes don’t drag on the ground.
If there isn’t a sidewalk, walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic.
Wear clothing with reflective markings or tape.
Be cautious of strangers.
Accept treats only in the doorway.
Never go inside a house.
Visit only houses where the lights are on.
Be sure to say thank you for your treats.
Wait until you get home and your parents check your candy before you eat it.

The Greatest Show in Town…………….

http://www.ahowlinggoodtime.com/

Craving Ideas & Tips!!

http://www.carvingpumpkins.com/vintage/halloween.html

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/halloween/mpatterns.htm

Have a Great Howling Halloween!!!

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Tags: Halloween, All-Hallows-Eve, All-Saints-Day, Jack-O-Lantern, Trick-or-Treat, Halloween-Safety

UPDATE: This property has been SOLD!

Please use our online complimentary St. Catharines Ontario real estate search to find similar available listings.

The price has been adjusted!!!  This St. Catharines home is now priced at $259,900.00!

This St. Catharines home is priced at $269,900.00.

Location, Location, Location … This immaculate 3 bedroom, 4-level backsplit is situated in the Cole Farm-Port Dalhousie area.

From its L-shaped living room accented with bleach oak flooring, to its updated kitchen and breakfast nook with skylights and pocket doors. This home is complete with two updated bathrooms, a recreation room with wood fireplace and walkout to a private fenced yard. On the lower level is a workshop adjacent to a laundry area. This home also features numerous updates: central air, furnace, windows and the roof was shingled just 2 years ago. There is an attached single car garage with double concrete driveway.

For further information, please contact Timothy via email or call him at 1-800-467-8498.

For other pictures of this home, please click here.

For other homes I have listed, please visit St. Catharines Real Estate listings page or the listings section of the blog. For other listings in this range, visit:

32 Bessborough

3360 Church Street

15 Shauna Court

For St. Catharine’s attractions, please visit:

Tour St. Catharines

St. Catharines Website

St. Catharines on WorldWeb

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Tags: 7-Old-Mill-Road, St.-Catharines, Ontario, St.-Catharines-Homes, City-of-St.-Catharines, St.-Catharines-Listings, St.-Catharines-Attractions, St.-Catharines-Real-Estate, Tour-St.-Catharines, 3360-Church-Street, 15-Shauna-Court, 32-Bessborough, Timothy-Salisbury

    
Courtesy the Los Angeles Fire Department

BEFORE HALLOWEEN:

- Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
- Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
- Secure emergency identification (name, address, phone number) discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet.
- Because a mask can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic and hypoallergenic makeup or a decorative hat as a safe alternative.
- When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories, purchase only those with a label indicating they are flame resistant.
- Think twice before using simulated knives, guns or swords. If such props must be used, be certain they do not appear authentic and are soft and flexible to prevent injury.
- Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
- Plan ahead to use only battery powered lanterns or chemical lightsticks in place of candles in decorations and costumes.
- This is also a great time to buy fresh batteries for your home Smoke Alarms.
- Teach children their home phone number and to how call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost. - Remind them that 9-1-1 can be dialed free from any phone.
- Review with your children the principle of “Stop-Drop-Roll”, should their clothes catch on fire.
- Openly discuss appropriate and inappropriate behavior at Halloween time.
- Consider purchasing individually packaged healthy food alternatives (or safe non-food treats) for those who visit your home.
- Take extra effort to eliminate tripping hazards on your porch and walkway. Check around your property for flower pots, low tree limbs, support wires or garden hoses that may prove hazardous to young children rushing from house to house.
- Learn or review CPR skills to aid someone who is choking or having a heart attack.
- Consider safe party guidelines when hosting an Adult or Office Party.

FUN ALTERNATIVES:

- Find a special event or start one in your own neighborhood.
- Community Centers, Shopping Malls and Houses of Worship may have organized festivities.
- Share the fun by arranging a visit to a Retirement Home or Senior Center.
- Create an alliance with College Fraternities, Sororities or Service Clubs for children’s face painting or a carnival.

BEFORE NIGHTFALL ON HALLOWEEN:

- A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
- Consider fire safety when decorating. Do not overload electrical outlets with holiday lighting or special effects, and do not block exit doors.
- While children can help with the fun of designing a Jack O’ Lantern, leave the carving to adults.
- Always keep Jack O’ Lanterns and hot electric lamps far away from drapes, decorations, flammable materials or areas where children and pets will be standing or walking.
- Plan and review with your children the route and behavior which is acceptable to you.
- Do not permit children to bicycle, roller-blade or skateboard.
- Agree on a specific time when revelers must return home.
- Along with flashlights for all, older children and escorts should wear a wristwatch and carry coins for non-emergency phone calls.
- Confine, segregate or otherwise prepare household pets for an evening of frightful sights and sounds. Be sure that all dogs and cats are wearing collars and proper identification tags. Consult your veterinarian for further advice.
- Remind all household drivers to remain cautious and drive slowly throughout the community.
- Adult partygoers should establish and reward a designated driver.

WHEN TRICK-OR-TREATING:

- Parent or responsible Adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
- Remind Trick-or-Treaters:
*By using a flashlight, they can see and be seen by others.
*Stay in a group, walk slowly and communicate where you are going.
*Only trick-or-treat in well known neighborhoods at homes that have a porch light on.
*Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
*If no sidewalk is available, walk at the farthest edge of the roadway facing traffic.
*Never cut across yards or use alleys.
*Never enter a stranger’s home or car for a treat.
*Obey all traffic and pedestrian regulations.
*Always walk. Never run across a street.
*Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom).
*Remove any mask or item that will limit eyesight before crossing a street, driveway or alley.
*Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn’t mean others will.
*Never consume unwrapped food items or open beverages that may be offered.
*No treats are to be eaten until they are thoroughly checked by an Adult at home.
*Law Enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

AFTER TRICK-OR-TREATING:

- Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible Adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
- Try to apportion treats for the days following Halloween.
- Although sharing is encouraged, make sure items that can cause choking (such as hard candies), are given only to those of an appropriate age.

We wish you a safe and happy Halloween!

Paul Schuster The Fire Guy Your “Retrofit” Specialist
73 Gray Cres. Richmond Hill
L4C 5V4 (905) 884-4423
www.thefireguy.ca

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Quote of the Week
“Buy land. They ain’t making any more of the stuff.”
Will Rogers (1879-1935)

Have a great week!

Paul Croteau
Mortgage Specialist
BMO Bank of Montreal
31 King Street
St. Catharines, ON
ph: (905) 321-3230
fx: (905) 641-7854
Paul.Croteau@bmo.com

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Tags: St-Catharines, Niagara, Canada, Mortgage-Rates, Paul-Croteau, Mortgage-Specialist, Bank-of-Montreal

Make the trip to Thorold, Ontario Canada October 23, 24 and 25!

The Canal Bank Shuffle announces a 3 days of Outstanding Blues featuring:

Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials

The Downchild Blues Band

Jack de Keyzer

WSNB (We Sing Nasty Blues)

Shakura S’Aida

Fathead

Jerome Godboo

David Rotundo

Krista Blondin - Tribute to Janis Joplin

Johnny Max

Cale Hawkins

Michael Keys

Jill West & the Blues Attack

Maria Autogema

Couldn’t Stand the Weather

AND MANY MORE…………

Admission:  $15  -  All proceeds to Local Charities - includes entrance to all venues and shows and the:  Kick-off Party - Thursday, October 23, 6pm, at the Holy Rosary Hall featuring: Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials; Shakura S’Aida and Cale Hawkins.

To view more information, visit Canal Bank Shuffle.

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Tags: Canada, Thorold, Thorold-Festival, Canal-Bank-Shuffle-Blues-Festival, Charity-Festival